Beginning January 2014, Texas state law(SB62) mandates that all entering students under the age of 22 provide a certificate signed by a health care provider or an official immunization record verifying that a student has been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis or has received a booster during the five years prior to registration. Students may also submit proof of approved conscience exemption from the Texas Department of State Health Services. 

What is bacterial meningitis?

Bacterial meningitis is a serious, potentially deadly disease that can progress extremely fast. Please consult a physician about the need for the immunization against bacterial meningitis to prevent the disease. More information can also be found at the website for the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Who is required to comply with the requirement?

• All newly admitted students under the age of 22.
• Students under the age of 22 who are returning to the Language and Culture Center after an absence of at least one semester.

What are the acceptable vaccines?

The MCV4 and MPSV4 are the only vaccines currently accepted (see below). Please visit the CDC website for additional information.

• MCV4: quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine
• MPSV4:  meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine

What are the acceptable forms of evidence?

• An official immunization record generated from a state or local health authority. Documentation must be in English and submitted with the Proof of Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form.
• A Proof of Bacterial Meningitis Immunization Compliance Form containing the required information with the signature or stamp of a physician or his/her designee, or public health personnel. The form must be completed fully, including the month, day, and year the vaccination dose or booster was administered.
• An official record received from school officials, including a record from another state

How do I submit proof and the Compliance Form?

Please submit all documents with your application for the LCC. For faster processing, write please your myUH ID number on the top right corner of each document submitted.

• Mail or Drop-Off: University of Houston Language and Culture Center, 3581 Cullen Blvd., Suite 230, Houston, TX 77204
• Email*: LCC@uh.edu
• Fax*: 713-743-3029. Please send all documents in one single transmission.

*Note: Affidavits from physicians stating that the immunization would be detrimental to the student's health, or Conscience Objector Affidavits from the Texas Department of State Health Services are NOT accepted by email or fax. Those affidavits must have originals submitted in person or by mail.

Will a vaccination from my country fulfill UH's requirement?

Yes, a vaccination record for one of the two accepted vaccines from a country outside the U.S. will meet the requirements. If the vaccination record is in a language other than English, we will need a certified English translation of the document.

Can I present medical documentation from my country in order to get an exemption due to medical reasons?

The Meningitis Vaccination Law requires that you visit a doctor in the U.S. to be able to get an exemption for medical reasons. We recommend that you bring an English translation of your records with you, so that you can present them to a U.S. physician. You will need to make sure that your travel arrangements will give you sufficient time to visit a doctor in the U.S.

How can I get an exemption for reasons of conscience?

You must follow the same guidelines and procedures outlined for domestic students. Please visit the TexasDepartmentofStateHealthServices for more information. 

What happens if I don't provide the necessary documentation?

You will not be able to attend classes until the proper documentation is received.